Bryan Danielson had one hell of a career before joining AEW in 2021, but in terms of sheer match quality and consistency, the last few years have arguably been the absolute best of his entire career. With full rein to wrestle in the way he wishes, the best version of Bryan Danielson has been allowed to flourish, though he has had some incredible matches in the years leading up to his time in AEW.
13 Definitive Best WWE WrestleMania Main Events, Ranked
The biggest matches in WWE history have headlined WrestleMania. Which main event from WWE’s Grandest Stage Of Them All tops the list?
TheSportster’s rating system will determine the very best of the best when it comes to Danielson’s matches throughout his time in WWE and AEW, and these will be compared to ratings from Cagematch.net and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
10 Bryan Danielson Vs. Adam Page (AEW Dynamite: 01/05/2022)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.43
After a time limit draw in their previous outing, the desperation to get the job done by both men in this match was felt, adding to both the character work and storytelling of this bout. Both men shed blood, making the action feel more intense and authentic too. It might not have reached the levels of their other match (which we will come to) but it was still a classic in its own right, with Page managing to find a way this time round to defeat Danielson.
9 Bryan Danielson Vs. KENTA (ROH Glory By Honor V 2006)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.5
Bryan Danielson took on KENTA in one of the best matches in ROH history back in 2006, with both men proving why they were considered the best in the world. Thus had everything – smooth technical prowess, the stiffest strikes imaginable, and some big moments such as Danielson’s dive into the crowd despite an injured arm. The work around that arm helped to carry the match and give it structure, adding to what was already a tremendous wrestling match.
8 Bryan Danielson Vs. John Cena (WWE SummerSlam 2013)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.26
Daniel Bryan’s first star-making victory in WWE came in a huge main event clash with John Cena which absolutely stole the show at SummerSlam 2013. Cena put in a great performance, doing his best to match Bryan technically but also using his power to gain the advantage. The crowd were strongly behind Bryan, whose babyface rise was infectious, and he put in an absolutely perfect performance here. A big fight feel with a massive victory, and a shocking post-match angle to boot.
7 Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr (AEW WrestleDream 2023)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 5.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.60
Two of the best technical wrestlers in the world went out there at WrestleDream and had one of the best technical wrestling matches of the whole year. This was all about mat work, submissions, transitions, and feeling out each other, traversing through the match in an ingenious way which was captivating to watch. Without big moves, near-falls, and the classic tropes of a wrestling match, this still kept up excitement and had the crowd invested.
6 Bryan Danielson Vs. Kenny Omega (AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam 2021)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
|
Storytelling |
2/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.55
Bryan Danielson’s first ever AEW match was a dream clash with Kenny Omega in front of one of the most electric crowds ever seen for a single bout in the company. The audience elevated this a great deal, giving it a distinct big fight feel. The technical wrestling, the sequences, and the back and forths were all stunning, though due to the lack of a major build it did lack in the storytelling department. Despite this being a five star classic, it did also feel like they were holding back and had another level to reach, which just goes to show how good these two are.
5 Bryan Danielson Vs. Triple H (WWE WrestleMania 30)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.5/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.25 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 8.94
One of the best WrestleMania openers of all time came when Triple H took on Daniel Bryan in a hugely heated match between two rivals. This had a great level of intensity, and despite the more technical and methodical approach, this hatred all came through. Triple H put in one of the most technically apt performances of his whole career, implementing different moves and looking crisp whilst doing so. The crowd were electric for this, as Bryan scored a huge win, setting up a major main event later in the night.
4 Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH Unified 2006)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.5/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.59
Nigel McGuinness is one of Bryan Danielson’s most storied rivals, and their best match together came at the Unified event in 2006 where they tore the house down in a classic. There was high stakes due to it being a unification bout, their rivalry was heated, and it just felt like a tough fight between two badass fighters. It was rough, stiff, and cringe-inducing due to the hard strikes and impact moves, on top of all the technical wrestling and brilliant transitions too. It wasn’t 100% perfect from a selling point of view, but the emotion was all there and it was tremendous to watch.
3 Bryan Danielson Vs. Adam Page (AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming 2021)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.75/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.54
Sting’s Definitive 13 Best WCW Matches, Ranked
Sting was the heart and soul of WCW, becoming The Icon with his classic performances in these matches.
Adam Page’s first defense of his AEW World Championship came in a breathtaking 60-minute time limit draw against Bryan Danielson. Despite this match lasting for an hour, the action never tired, and much of this was due to the stunning heel work of Bryan Danielson, whose character in this match was brutal, hard-hitting, and arrogant. This hour of action flew by, which is testament to how incredible this match was.
2 Bryan Danielson Vs. Will Ospreay (AEW Dynasty 2024)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.75/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: N/A
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.68
For many, this will be the best match of Bryan Danielson’s entire career. The chemistry between these two men was out of this world, with thunderous moves, great sequences, and one of the most electric crowds in AEW history. The end of match angle is the only thing that takes this away from being perfect, as the whole match was stunning from the opening bell. Ospreay in particular shone as a star in the making, looking like a match to Danielson.
1 Bryan Danielson Vs. MJF (AEW Revolution 2023)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.75/10
|
Storytelling |
2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical Ability |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Character Work/Psychology |
2.5/2.5 |
|
Crowd Reaction |
2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 5.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.61
This is one of the best matches in AEW history, and for some fans it might even be number one. Never has an Iron Man match had the consistent pace and crowd retention as this one, as MJF and Bryan Danielson put together a psychology masterclass for over an hour. The technical showcase from both men was stunning, with MJF in particular turning heads by proving he is not only a phenomenal talker, but among the absolute best in-ring workers in the world too. Despite the predictable nature of this match, the crowd fell for several near-falls, especially when Danielson pulled out the “Yes” chant for the first time in AEW.
